Multiple operated fastening installation



Sept. 17, 1935. G. JOHNSON 2,015,034

MULTIPLE OPERATED FASTENING' INSTALLATION Filed April 18, 1931 PatentedSept. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE OPERATED FASTENINGINSTALLATION Application April 18, 1931, Serial No. 531,120

7 Claims. (Cl. 24-205)\ My invention aims to provide improvements inmultiple operated fastening installations and particularly improvementsin separable end fastening means which permitV complete separation l ofthe stringers of the installation.

In the drawing which illustrates 'a preferred embodiment of myinvention:-

rFigure 1 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of i a multiple operatedfastening installation showing my improved end fastening means;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the end portion of the installation showing theslider in plan section and in the proper position for engagement anddisengagement of the end fastening means; and

Fig.. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but with the sliderout of proper relation to the female member of the end fastening meansbut being moved toward lt by means of the male member which has beenentered into the slider.

Referring now to the particular embodiment of my invention which isillustrated by the accompanying drawing, I have shown a multipleoperated separable fastening. means which is particularly adapted forclosures which must be completely separated at both ends at specifiedtimes. In the installation illustrated I have shown two stringers I and2 to the adjacent edges of which are attached 'series of fasteners 3 ofany suitable construction for uniting the edges of the stringers. The\usual slider 4 is provided for engaging and disengaging the fasteners 3as is now well understood by those skilled in the art.

At adjacent ends of the stringers I and 2 close to the ends of the rowsof fasteners 3 I have provided end fastening means comprising a femalemember secured to the stringer I and a male member secured to thestringer 2. These members are adapted to be separated by passage of themale member through o'ne side channel of the slider 4 and to be engagedby entrance of the male member into the slider only when the slider islocated in a particular relation to the female member as will behereinafter more fully described.

The male member is made of sheet "metal and has an integral tubularportion 5 of substantial length beginning adjacent to the edge -of thestringer 2 to which a series of fasteners 3 is attached. Extendinginwardly from the tubular portion 5 in spaced relation are two flanges 6and 1 (Fig. 2) of substantial area which are clamped against oppositefaces of the stringer to hold the male member in ilxed relation to thestringer. A convenient means of attachment includes a number of prongs 8pressed from the material of the flange 6 and passing through thestringer 2 and flange 1, the ends being upset as 5 illustrated in Figs.1 and v2. Adjacent to that end of the tubular portion 5 of the malemember I have provided a lateral projection 9 which is adapted tocooperate with the fasteners 3 in such a manner (Fig. 3) that improperengage- 10 ment of the fasteners 3 is impossible. The other end 5a ofthe tubular portion 5 is rounded to ride easily over the ends of thefasteners 3 (Fig.

4) and to enter easily into engagement with the female member. l5

The female member has a tubular portion I0 which is located adjacent toone end of a series of fasteners 3 secured to the stringer and is heldinposition by flanges II and I2 extending inwardly therefrom in spacedrelation and gripping 20 the stringer I between them. These flanges IIand I2 are held in position by prongs I3 in the same manner as theflanges 6 and 1 of the male member. A slot I4 (Fig. 3) is cut into theouter edge of the tubular portion I0 to permit entrance 25 of theflanges 6 and 'I when the male member 5 is entered into the femalemember I0. The slot I4 does not extend the entire length of the portionI0 thereby leaving a shoulder I5 which provides a, stop against whichthe flanges 6 and 1 may engage to limit the entrance of the male memberinto the socket.

If we assume that the stringers are separated, the end members may bereadily engaged no matter where the slider is located on the stringer 35I. This is demonstrated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing which show (Fig.4) the slider spaced from' the end member III and Athe end member 5entered therein. By moving the stringer 2 toward the left (Fig. 3) themember 5 and slider 40 4 are moved to a position where the slider 4 rstcontacts with the cam shaped edges I6 provided in the flanges II and I2of the female member by cutting slots or grooves in the said flanges.These cam edges I6 guide the slider 4 into proper 45 relation to thefastener members 3 and female member on the stringer and the slider is,therefore, held against any substantial lateral or rocking movement. Inthis manner the male member 5 is easily and accurately pulled intoengage- 50 ment with the female portion III and the end members assumepositions as shown in Flg.. 1. The edges of the flanges 6 and 1 contactwith the shoulder I5 on the portion I0 and the upper edge 5b engagesbeneath the last fastener 3 on 55 the Stringer I, thus properlypositioning the fastener members 3 so that the slider when pulled towardthe right (Fig. 1) will engage them. In this manner the ends of thestringers I and 2 are properly locked together and cannot be separatedby stresses exerted in any direction. If an attempt is made to engagethe fasteners 3 on the opposed stringers I and 2 while the parts are inthe positions, as shown in Fig. 3, the lateral projection 9 on themember 5 would engage the ends of the fasteners 3 on the Stringer I andany attempt to move the slider 4 to the right would result in the partsbecoming jammed. Therefore, my device is fool-proof to the extent thatthe end fasteners must be properly engaged before the slider can beoperated to engage the fasteners 3 on one Stringer with the fasteners 3on the other Stringer.

Separation of the stringers is eily and quickly effected by simplypulling the slider 4 towards the end members and then moving theStringer 2 longitudinally relative to the Stringer I to pull the maleportion 5 through the slider.

My end members are made in one-piece units from sheet metal and aresimple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and easyto attach.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited thereby, because the scope of myinvention is best defined by the following claims,

I claim:

l. In a multiple operated fastening device having two stringers eachhaving a Series of fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider forengaging and disengaging the fastening elements at one edge of oneStringer with the fastening elements at an edge of the other Stringerand end fastening means whereby Saidstringersmaybe completelydisengaged, Said end fastening means comprising a male member `attachedto one of said stringers adjacent to one end of a Series of fasteningelements, a female member attached to the other Stringer adjacent to oneend 0f the Series of fastener elements secured thereto, one of saidmembers lhaving attaching means in the form of spaced flanges engagingopposite faces of its respective Stringer to secure the said means inposition, said flanges having groove and cam means engaging and holdingthe slider in proper relation tothe said member when entered into saidgroove thereby to permit the other member to be engaged therewith ordisengaged therefrom easily and unobstructably through the slider.

2. In a multiple operated fastening device having two stringers eachhaving a series of fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider forengaging and disengaging the fastening elements at one edge of oneStringer with the fastening elements at an edge of the other Stringerand end fastening means whereby said stringers may be completelydisengaged, said end fastening meansv comprising a male member attachedto one of said stringers adjacent to one end of a Series of fasteningelements', a female member attached to the other Stringer adjacent toone end of the series of fastener elements secured thereto, said femalemember having attaching means in the form of spaced flanges ofsubstantial area engaging opposite faces of its respective Stringer tosecure the said m'eans in position and Said attaching means having camand groove means adapted to position and hold the Slider in properrelation thereto, thereby to permit the male member to pass through theslider for engagement with or disengagement from said female memberwithout interfering with the'fastening elements on the stringers.

3. In a multiple operated fastening device having two stringers eachhaving a series of fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider forengaging and disengaging the fastening elements at one edge of oneStringer with the fastening elements at an edge of the other Stringerand end fastening means whereby Said stringers may be completelydisengaged, said end fastening means comprising a male member attachedto one of said stringers adjacent to one end of a serias of fasteningelements, a female member attached to the other Stringer adjacent to oneend of the series of fastener elements Secured thereto, each of saidmembers having attaching means in the form of spaced flanges ofSubstantial area engaging opposite faces of their respective stringersto secure the said means in position, Slider positioning means providedby the attaching means of one of said end members and attaching prongsextending from one flange of each member through a Stringer and clenchedinto engagement with the other flange.

4. In a multiple operated fastening device having two stringers eachhaving a series of fastening elements attached to an edge, a Slider foren.- gaging and disengaging the fastening elements 3o at one edge of oneStringer with the fastening elements at an edge of the other Stringerand end fastening means whereby said stringers may be completelydisengaged, said end fastening means comprising a male member attachedt0 35 one of Said stringers adjacent to one end of a series of fasteningelements, a female member attached to the other Stringer adjacent to oneend of the Series of fastener elements secured thereto, each of saidmembers being substantially straight throughout its length and onemember having a lateral projection extending toward the other member toprovide interfering means to prevent improper fastening engagement ofthe end fastener elements of the stringers and cam and groove meansprovided by Said female member for positioning the Slider in properrelation thereto, thereby to permit the male member to pass through theslider for engagement with or disengagement from said female member,said male member being in the form of a Single rigid member ofsubstantial length extending along an edge of one of the stringers andhaving one end located relatively close to the last fastener element onthat Stringer.

5. In a multiple operated fastening device having two stringers eachhaving a Series of fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider forengaging and disengaging the fastening elements at one edge of oneStringer with the fastening 50 elements at an edge of the other Stringerand end fastening means whereby said stringers may be completelydisengaged, Said end fastening means comprising a male member attachedto one.of said stringers adjacent to one end of a series of fasteningelements, a female member attached to the other Stringer adjacent to oneend of the series of fastener elements Secured thereto, Said female endmember having a tubular portion offset laterally beyond the edge of oneof the stringers to receive the male member and having plate-likeattaching means engaging the Stringer, Said plate-like attaching meanshaving a notch cut therein to permit passage of part of the female endmember into the slider so that the slider may assume a proper positionwith relation to the tubular portion when the end fastening means arebeing engaged or disengaged.

6. In a multiple operated fastening device having two stringers eachhaving a series of fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider forengaging and disengaging the fastening elements at one edge of onestringer with the fastening elements at an edge of the other stringerand end fastening means whereby said stringers may be completelydisengaged, said end fastening means comprising a male member attachedto one of said stringers adjacent to one end of a series of fasteningelements, a female member attached to the other stringer adjacent to oneend of the series of fastener elements secured thereto and each of saidend members being formed from a single piece of metal and havingattaching means of substantial area securing them to their respectivestringers, said attaching means extending upwardly along said stringerssubstantial distances beyond the first fastener element on each stringerand attaching prongs extending from said attaching means through thestringers and upset to secure the end fastening members to thestringers.

7. In a multiple operated fastening device having two stringers eachhaving a series of fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider forengaging and dsengaging the fastening elements at one edge of onestringer with the fastening elements at an edge of the other stringerand end fastening means whereby said stringers may be completelydisengaged, said end fastening means comprising a relatively longstraight male member attached to one of said stringers adjacent to oneend of a series of fastening elements and having its axis parallel withthe edge of the stringer, a female member attached to the other stringeradjacent to one end of the series of fastener elements secured theretoand having its axis parallel to the edge of said other stringer, and oneof said mem` bers having a rigid projection for a portion of its lengthonly at the end nearest the fastening elements and extending laterallytoward the other beyond the remainder of said member to provide einterfering means to contact with the fastening elements for preventingimproper fastening engagement of the fastening elements on the stringersin the manner described.

GUSTAV JOHNSON.

